Why Nigeria is underdeveloped, by US envoy

Yola – United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Terence McCulley, yesterday, identified corruption, poor economic growth, erratic power supply as well as non-functional public health and education systems as some challenges facing Nigeria.

McCulley also said youth restiveness, religious bigotry and get-rich quick syndrome were other factors militating against the country’s growth.

The Ambassador spoke at the matriculation “Fall 2011” of American University of Nigeria, Yola, Adamawa State.

He said: ‘’Nigeria faces many challenges in the area of good governance, economic growth, sustainable development, erratic power generation and supply, non-functional public health and education system from primary school to the university levels.”

McCulley added that corruption, religious intolerance and bigotry had destroyed the confidence of Nigerians and undermined the notion of public service, noting that in spite of these shortcomings, Nigeria had the potentials of attracting billions of dollars in foreign investments as long as there is a solid commitment to the rule of law and sanctity of commercial contracts.

According to McCulley, Nigeria had good reputation internationally, although outsiders always portrayed the country and her people negatively.